US6204813B1 — Local area multiple object tracking system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 188 words

An RF tracking system for determining characteristics of at least one object in a local area, the system comprising: (a) at least one remote spread spectrum radio transceiver, the at least one remote spread spectrum radio transceiver being coupled to the at least one object in the local area; (b) at least three tower spread spectrum radio transceivers being positioned proximate to the local area and the at least three spread spectrum radio transceivers transmitting signals to and receiving signals from the at least one remote spread spectrum radio transceiver; (c) a signal processor coupled to the at least three tower spread spectrum radio transceivers, the signal processor processing signal data received from the at least three tower spread spectrum radio transceivers; (d) a database engine in communication with the signal processor, the database engine storing in and retrieving from a database the signal data and biographical data relating to the at least one object; and (e) a processor coupled to the database engine, the processor determining the characteristics of the at least one object based, at least in part, on the signal data and the biographical data.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 188 words

An RF tracking system for determining characteristics of at least one object in a local area, the system comprising: (a) at least one remote spread spectrum radio transceiver, the at least one remote spread spectrum radio transceiver being coupled to the at least one object in the local area; (b) at least three tower spread spectrum radio transceivers being positioned proximate to the local area and the at least three spread spectrum radio transceivers transmitting signals to and receiving signals from the at least one remote spread spectrum radio transceiver; (c) a signal processor coupled to the at least three tower spread spectrum radio transceivers, the signal processor processing signal data received from the at least three tower spread spectrum radio transceivers; (d) a database engine in communication with the signal processor, the database engine storing in and retrieving from a database the signal data and biographical data relating to the at least one object; and (e) a processor coupled to the database engine, the processor determining the characteristics of the at least one object based, at least in part, on the signal data and the biographical data.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 22 words

The RF positioning system of claim 1 further comprising a video processor for displaying the characteristics of the at least one object.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 29 words

The RF positioning system of claim 1 wherein the database engine stores the signal data received by the at least three tower spread spectrum radio transceivers in real time.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 50 words

The RF positioning system of claim 1 further comprising at least one processor that is electrically coupled to the at least three tower spread spectrum radio transceivers, the at least one processor determining the time of arrival of signals received by the at least three tower spread spectrum radio transceivers.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 31 words

The RF positioning system of claim 1 wherein the characteristics include at least one of identity, position, velocity, acceleration, jerk, orientation, rotational velocity, rotational acceleration, and rotational jerk of the objects.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 26 words

The RF positioning system of claim 1 wherein the signal processor is connected to the at least three tower spread spectrum radio transceivers by a network.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 24 words

The RF positioning system of claim 1 further comprising an object signal processor coupled to the at least one remote spread spectrum radio transceiver.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 20 words

The system of claim 1 , wherein biographical data comprises height, weight, strength metrics, speed metrics and previous game statistics.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 159 words

A method for determining characteristics of at least one object in a three-dimensional space, the method comprising: (a) providing at least one remote spread spectrum radio transceivers, the at least one remote spread spectrum radio transceiver being coupled to the at least one object; (b) positioning at least three tower spread spectrum radio transceivers proximate to the three-dimensional space; (c) receiving signal data from the at least one remote spread spectrum radio transceiver with the at least three tower spread spectrum radio transceivers; (d) coupling a signal processor to the at least three tower spread spectrum radio transceivers, the signal processor processing the signal data received from that at least three tower spread spectrum radio transceivers; (e) storing in and retrieving from a database the signal data and biographical data relating to the at least one object; and (f) processing at least the signal data and the biographical data to determine the characteristics of the at least one object.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 159 words

A method for determining characteristics of at least one object in a three-dimensional space, the method comprising: (a) providing at least one remote spread spectrum radio transceivers, the at least one remote spread spectrum radio transceiver being coupled to the at least one object; (b) positioning at least three tower spread spectrum radio transceivers proximate to the three-dimensional space; (c) receiving signal data from the at least one remote spread spectrum radio transceiver with the at least three tower spread spectrum radio transceivers; (d) coupling a signal processor to the at least three tower spread spectrum radio transceivers, the signal processor processing the signal data received from that at least three tower spread spectrum radio transceivers; (e) storing in and retrieving from a database the signal data and biographical data relating to the at least one object; and (f) processing at least the signal data and the biographical data to determine the characteristics of the at least one object.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 9 wherein the step of processing the signal data comprises calculating times of arrival of the signal data at each of the at least three tower spread spectrum radio transceivers.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 10 wherein the times of arrival are measured relative to a synchronization clock.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 9 wherein the characteristics comprise at least one of identity position, velocity, acceleration, jerk, orientation, rotational velocity, rotational acceleration and rotational jerk.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 9 wherein the step of storing the signal data and the biographical data in the database is performed in real time.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of displaying the characteristics of the at least one object on a video screen.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of displaying the biographical data of the at least one object on the video screen.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of transmitting the characteristics of the at least one object over an internet.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method of claim 9 further comprising instructing the at least three tower spread spectrum radio transceivers to transmit a spread spectrum signal that instructs the at least one remote spread spectrum radio transceiver to transmit telemetry data or to reconfigure operation.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 9 wherein the step of processing the signal data includes correcting for time-of-arrival errors caused by the least three tower spread spectrum radio transceivers being unsynchronized.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 20 words

The system of claim 9 , wherein biographical data comprises height, weight, strength metrics, speed metrics and previous game statistics.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 187 words

A system for monitoring the performance of at least one sports player on a sporting field, the system comprising: (a) at least one remote spread spectrum radio transceiver, the at least one remote spread spectrum radio transceiver being positioned on the at least one sports player; (b) at least three tower spread spectrum radio transceivers being positioned proximate to the sports field, the at least three tower spread spectrum radio transceivers transmitting signal data to and receiving signal data from the plurality of remote spread spectrum radio transceivers; (c) a signal processor coupled to the at least three tower spread spectrum radio transceivers, the signal processor processing signal data received from the at least three tower spread spectrum radio transceivers; (d) a database engine in communication with the signal processor, the database engine storing in and retrieving from a database the signal data and biographical data of the at least one sports player; and (e) a processor coupled to the database engine, the processor determining the characteristics of the at least one sports player based, at least in part, on the signal data and the biographical data.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 187 words

A system for monitoring the performance of at least one sports player on a sporting field, the system comprising: (a) at least one remote spread spectrum radio transceiver, the at least one remote spread spectrum radio transceiver being positioned on the at least one sports player; (b) at least three tower spread spectrum radio transceivers being positioned proximate to the sports field, the at least three tower spread spectrum radio transceivers transmitting signal data to and receiving signal data from the plurality of remote spread spectrum radio transceivers; (c) a signal processor coupled to the at least three tower spread spectrum radio transceivers, the signal processor processing signal data received from the at least three tower spread spectrum radio transceivers; (d) a database engine in communication with the signal processor, the database engine storing in and retrieving from a database the signal data and biographical data of the at least one sports player; and (e) a processor coupled to the database engine, the processor determining the characteristics of the at least one sports player based, at least in part, on the signal data and the biographical data.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 25 words

The system of claim 20 wherein the characteristics include at least one of identity, position, velocity, acceleration, jerk, rotational velocity, rotational acceleration, and rotational jerk.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 21 words

The system of claim 20 further comprising a video processor for displaying the characteristics of the at least one sports player.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 22 words

The system of claim 20 further comprising a tactile feedback apparatus for displaying the characteristics of the at least one sports player.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 21 words

The system of claim 20 further comprising a sound system for communicating the characteristics of the at least one sports player.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 24 words

The system of claim 20 further comprising a data processor for calculating player performance metrics and statistics for the at least one sports player.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 35 words

The system of claim 20 further comprising at l east one sensor positioned on the at least one sports player, the sensor being electrically coupled to the at least one remote spread spectrum radio transceiver.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 21 words

The system of claim 26 wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of impact, acceleration, or gyro sensors.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 20 words

The system of claim 20 , wherein biographical data comprises height, weight, strength metrics, speed metrics and previous game statistics.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-03-19	2004-09-18	2005-03-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-03-19	2008-09-18	2009-03-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-03-19	2012-09-18	2013-03-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Local area multiple object tracking system

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